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Staff Reviews

Of all the middle-grade fiction I read in 2013, this debut novel was the most surprising and satisfying. I can’t wait for the sequel next year! This is a funny, frightening, thought-provoking, wild ride that explores the true meaning of true love and the vast gray area between good and evil. Sophie is intent on proving herself the utmost "good" girl so she befriends Agatha—goth on the outside, pure of heart on the inside. Mission accomplished when the best friends are thrust into the land of fairy tales, where princesses are schooled in waiting for their princely rescue and witches learn to hate. But in which school will each be placed?

Summer of Books Inc. Laurel Village

A super fun read, especially for smart girls who read up—providing enough depth to appeal to the precocious, while still playing it mostly safe content wise (there’s a school for EVIL, after all, EVIL things are bound to happen) , The School for Good and Evil sets the stage for what promises to be a high stakes, action packed series. Quippy, hilarious dialog pairs up expertly with serious drama, creating a landscape in which friendship is paramount, and nothing is as it seems. A great book for discussion. For ages 10+

— Maggie, Books Inc. Children's Department Director

Description

The New York Times bestselling School for Good and Evil series is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one. Start here to follow Sophie, Agatha, and everyone at school from the beginning!

With her glass slippers and devotion to good deeds, Sophie knows she'll earn top marks at the School for Good and join the ranks of past students like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White. Meanwhile, Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks and wicked black cat, seems a natural fit for the villains in the School for Evil.

The two girls soon find their fortunes reversed—Sophie's dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School for Good, thrust among handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.

But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are?

About the Author

Soman Chainani believes in fairy tales wholeheartedly. When studying at Harvard, he practically created his own fairy-tale major. He is an acclaimed screenwriter and a graduate of the MFA Film Directing Program at Columbia University. His films have played at more than 150 film festivals around the world, and his writing awards include an honor from the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference. He lives in New York City. You can visit him online at www.somanchainani.net.

Iacopo Bruno is a graphic designer and illustrator. He is also the illustrator of the acclaimed books Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France and Anything But Ordinary Addie, both by Mara Rockliff. He lives and works in Milan, Italy, with his wife, Francesca. Learn more about Iacopo at www.theworldofdot.com and www.iacopobruno.blogspot.it.

Praise For…

Invention in overdrive…The School for Good and Evil is a comedic education by a writer primed to shoot to the head of the class.— Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and Matchless

“Rich and strange.”— Kirkus Reviews

“A fairy tale like no other, complete with romance, magic, humor, and a riddle that will keep you turning pages until the end.”— Ann M. Martin, author of the bestselling Babysitter’s Club series

“Chainani has imagined the world where fairy tales come to life, where for every fairy princess with a ‘Happily Ever After’ in her future there is a villain with a tragic fate in store. But in The School for Good and Evil it’s not always certain which is which.”— David Magee, screenwriter of Life of Pi and Finding Neverland

“In Chainani’s richly imagined world the action never lets up for a nano-second. Young readers won’t be able to stop turning the pages till they reach the surprising and satisfying conclusion.”— Tor Seidler, author of Mean Margaret, a National Book Award Finalist

“Chainani takes the racing energy of Roald Dahl’s language and combines it with the existential intensity of J.K. Rowling’s plots to create his own universe. THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL uses the sorcery of words and the poetry of friendship to startle, enchant, and keep us turning pages.”— Maria Tatar, Chair of Folklore and Mythology Program, Harvard University and Editor of The Classic Fairy Tales

“Wow. From the very first sentence, you know you’re entering a thrilling world of strange fantasy... A wild and dangerous fairy tale ride. I loved this book.”— R. L. Stine, author of the bestselling Goosebumps series

“[A] whip-smart debut...If I could bewitch you all to read it, I would. Grade: A.”— Entertainment Weekly

Product Details

ISBN: 9780062104892ISBN-10: 0062104896Publisher: HarperCollinsPublication Date: May 14th, 2013Pages: 496Language: EnglishSeries: School for Good and Evil